Congress just did something your customers will want to hear aboutDoor and Window Market MagazineIn a rare display of bipartisanship, Congress recently pulled together to pass the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (HR 5771), signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 19. While the bill includes many provisions, door and window installers may want to note one in particular.
Section 25C allows individuals to update the tax credit for a portion of the amount paid on qualified energy efficiency improvements and residential energy property expenditures — specifically, 10 percent of the cost with a $500 limit.

Is financial illiteracy hurting your business?Small Business TrendsAs a small business owner, you're probably accustomed to wearing multiple hats — Chief Financial Officer, included. And as all small businesses owners know, functioning competently in multiple roles is essential for getting your business off the ground and turning a profit. If you handle your own small business finances, you're not alone. Eighty percent of small business owners do exactly the same.

An Ohio replacement contractor sold an additional $7 million in 2013 without spending additional money on marketing or leads. In this special report, they reveal how they increased revenue and lowered costs. "It's really an unfair advantage... but we'd be crazy not to do it." They open up their books, share their numbers, and prove how they boosted sales by 41%.
See How They Did It

Remodeling market continues to spur US lumber demandWoodworking NetworkThe U.S. lumber market will continue to rebound in 2015, following a year which saw demand strengthen due to an improving construction market. According to the Western Wood Products Association, U.S. lumber demand is projected to rise 8 percent to 44.87 billion board feet in 2015.

Is your business making these common Facebook mistakes?By Anna Wickham Your business's Facebook page and your personal Facebook page may look similar, but they are a lot more different than you think. One of the mistakes we often see is businesses using Facebook as they've always used it for their own personal profile. However, posting on Facebook for your business requires a whole different set of rules, best practices and things to avoid. These common Facebook marketing mistakes could be costing you and your business valuable customers.

Construction hiring is surgingUSA TodayThe construction industry, hit hard by the housing crash and recession, is ramping up hiring in an encouraging sign for job and wage growth this year.
Contractors added 48,000 jobs in December, the most since last January, and 290,000 in 2014, a nine-year high. That helped push overall payroll growth to 252,000 last month as the unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent from 5.8 percent, the Labor Department said recently.

8 steps for dealing with angry customer complaintsEntrepreneurToday, entrepreneurs need to understand that consumers have a voice, and a loud one at that. Social media is just one way to vent frustrations, but more aggressive consumers will take their grievances to sites such as Yelp, Foursquare, Google, Amazon and so on, which have tremendous influence over consumer purchases.

More states are adopting this new energy rating systemDoor & Window Market MagazineA new energy rating system is making waves across the U.S. as another state will be adopting the method as a pathway to getting residential building permits approved.
Illinois is adopting Residential Energy Services Network's Home Energy Rating System Index as a way to gauge a home's energy performance pursuant to a building permit.
HERS is a type of diagnostic testing using specialized equipment, such as a blower door test, duct leakage tester, combustion analyzer and infrared cameras to determine the extent of air leaks and safety issues among other things.

5 home remodels that increase resale priceInvestopediaIf you're considering improvements to your home this winter, first consider which will pay the most back when you sell the home down the road. Remodeling Magazine recently released its 2015 Cost vs. Value Report, which outlines the 35 most popular home additions, remodels and replacements in 101 U.S. cities. One of the most surprising replacements topping the list was steel entry doors.